Chapter 56: The Lone Star and the Sun

Aslan's Magical Workshop proved to be highly efficient. By the time Wade left, he had already obtained the first edition of the "Friends Ledger."

This was an initial consolidated collection, with entries for a minimum of two people and a maximum of fifteen. The cover was much more exquisite than the one Wade had casually written, with gold-edged lettering and a slightly swaying illustration of a gentian. Inside, the pages were differentiated by colors and flowers; for example, a two-person entry was represented by sunflowers, a three-person by tulips, a four-person by lilies, and a five-person by violets. All the flowers symbolized friendship.

Although Wade thought the "Friends Ledger" was quite refined, Marchionni was not entirely satisfied.

"This is the version aimed at women; it should have a bit of scented powder."

"Are there other versions?" Wade asked.

"Of course," Marchionni said. "There's a version aimed at men, featuring illustrations of pines, crowns, scepters, and bows; an animal version with unicorns, phoenixes, dragons, and pegasi; a children's version with Puffskeins and fairies; and a novelty version with Dementors and Cerberus. The Quidditch version features famous Quidditch players and flying brooms. Additionally, there are architecture, Veela, Merlin's Order, and house versions..."

He rattled off dozens of types without needing to think, as if an endless stream of profitable ideas continually popped into his head. He concluded, "There's a wide range of choices; many people will want to buy several copies for their collection even if they don't need them. But our flower templates are currently the most abundant, so we're starting with this one. If you don't like it, you can give it to a female classmate. When the other versions are printed, I'll send you a few sets."

Ved shook his head. "What would I do with so many?"

"You could keep them for yourself!" Marchionni smiled. "Or give them to classmates to foster relationships!"

"I don't like to please others."

Or rather, his life hadn't reached a point where pleasing others was necessary to sustain it—neither in his past life nor in this one.

"It's not exactly pleasing others. If someone helps you with a small favor, you can reciprocate with a 'Friends Ledger.' It doesn't have to be much; a two-person or three-person entry is enough," Marchionni advised him like an older brother. "This is nearly costless for you, but for others, it is a relatively precious gift, and receiving it would surely make them happy. Also, Ved—"

He patted Ved's soft hair and said, "We're not lone stars in the night sky; we'll always need others' help. If you don't give first, how can you receive?"

"Marchionni makes some valid points, but if it makes you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to learn from him," Professor Morey suddenly said. "Blindly imitating others will only make you lose your own judgment. Just be yourself. Though a lone star is solitary, if you are like the sun, stars will naturally surround you."

"Alright, perhaps you're right, Professor," Marchionni shrugged. "But I still believe there's nothing wrong with fostering good relationships with most people."

"You've been thinking about making money since your first year, but Wade is not a businessman; he's an alchemist—enjoying solitude, seeking the unknown, and keeping company with knowledge. That's the quality of an alchemist! Don't contaminate my student with your unscrupulous business tactics." Professor Morey said unhappily.

"Hey, that's a slander, Professor!" Marchionni protested and immediately gave an example. "If I were truly unscrupulous for money, I'd have the tech department set a one-year usage limit on the Friends Ledger, so users would have to buy a new one each year. Now that would be a constant stream of Galleons! But I didn't do that, which proves that even in business, I have noble ethics!"

"But you must have thought about it, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have blurted out such a vicious idea."

"—Thinking isn't illegal."

...

Their next stop was naturally Gringotts.

By this time, it was already evening, and there were very few wizards shopping in Diagon Alley. Instead, some individuals in black cloaks, acting stealthily, began to appear. They almost all disappeared into a dark, sinister alleyway.

"Don't look that way! That's Knockturn Alley, a favorite haunt for dark wizards."

Marchionni blocked Wade's view, and with a sweep of his arm in a wide sleeve, almost completely shielded Wade. Meanwhile, Professor Morey walked on his other side.

The group smoothly reached Gringotts, where a goblin standing near the entrance bowed toward them.

"Good evening, gentlemen."

"Good evening," Marchionni gestured with his hand and said, "Mr. Wade Gray needs to rent a new vault."

"Please introduce the types and prices to Mr. Gray."

"Please come this way—"

Ved followed the goblin and Marchionni to handle the vault rental procedures, while Professor Morey approached another goblin writing on a high stool.

"Long time no see, Griphook."

"Hello, Professor Morey, is there anything I can do for you?" the goblin named Griphook asked respectfully.

"I need to retrieve something from my vault," Professor Morey said, showing his key.

"Alright, please wait a moment—I need to fetch a clink disc."

The goblins have a dragon imprisoned in their underground vaults for dealing with any ill-intentioned intruders, and the clink disc allows goblins and clients to traverse the vaults safely.

It was Wade's first time riding the legendary cart, something Michael had once described to him—like it was trying to throw your brain out.

The cart looked narrow and small, quite rudimentary, but it wasn't cramped even with two adults, a child, and two goblins aboard. Griphook flicked a lever connected to the front of the cart, and it started moving with a clatter.

"Close your eyes, and don't open your mouth!" Marchionni shouted to Wade while he had the chance.

Ved didn't foolishly ask questions and immediately complied.

The cart descended a steep slope, gaining speed rapidly, and soon he could hear the cold wind whistling past. The path must have been particularly winding because they swayed involuntarily left and right, as if trying to throw them out. Fortunately, since he kept his eyes shut, the dizziness was significantly reduced. Marchionni's arm pressed tightly against his chest like a safety bar.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the cart finally came to a stop. By then, everyone's faces had turned pale, and they clung to the railings until Wade and Marchionni could exit the cart.

As for Professor Morey, he still needed to continue downward to retrieve something from his vault.

"Alright, let's go," Griphook said, once again flicking the cart's lever.

Meanwhile, another goblin named Cooler stood by the side of the path. The vault door beside him bore the number "317." He used his slender fingers to grasp a bronze key and turned it several times in the lock. The chains suddenly came alive and slithered away, and the vault door swung open.

Ved stood at the entrance and looked inside. The empty vault resembled a giant cavern, with not even a blade of grass within.

"This will be your vault from now on, Mr. Wade Gray," Cooler handed him the key and said, "Please make sure to keep your key safe."

Ved took the key, which was attached to a thin silver chain, long enough for him to hang it around his neck.

"A bit empty, isn't it?" Marchionni said with a smile, then signed a document and handed it to Cooler. "Transfer 50,000 Galleons from my vault to Vault 317."

Cooler accepted it without expression and said, "Alright, please wait a moment."

In what seemed like just a few breaths, the sound of jingling suddenly filled the air. As Wade was searching for the source, thousands upon thousands of Galleons rained down like a storm inside the vault. They clattered and rang as they hit the floor, forming a golden mound that shimmered brilliantly in the torchlight.

Marchionni chuckled, "Someday, this place might just be filled with Galleons, won't it?"